Method and system for electronic game real world interaction and role playing

ABSTRACT

Real world interactive role playing games (“RWIRPG”) is a new intellectual property aimed at revolutionizing the gaming industry. No longer will garners be forced to stay inside in order to play and socialize with other garners. The embodiments of the invention are aimed at creating an interactive “real world” gaming experience, placing a new emphasis on human interaction in order to advance electronic gaming. Utilizing the latest GPS/GPRS mapping technology and software, RWIRPG would be location-aware of the player and any other players of any particular game. Once two or more players of a particular game are within a predetermined radius of each other, that game would allow them to directly interact and socialize with each other. Primary gaming will involve aspects of role playing, player vs. player combat, real world awareness, and the ability to think outside of conventional games.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/392,194, filed Oct. 12, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated fully by reference.

BACKGROUND

Computerized game play has been a growth technology since the advent of Atari® and other primitive gaming systems. Today millions play games at home on home computers and laptops and on-the-go on their mobile devices.

One popular form of game play are virtual world games such as Second Life™ or World of WarCraft™ where a player may set up an account and interact with other players in a virtual environment. Interactions may be limited to strictly gaming activities, or social and more day-to-day activities such as those in Second Life™, which do not have any designated objective or traditional game play rules.

More traditionally, many owners of smart phones or PDA handsets (as used herein interchangeable “handset” or “device”) use these devices for game play and entertainment in addition to serving communication needs. Various free and paid-for applications can be downloaded to virtually any device for entertainment purposes, including games as simple as Tetris™ or more complex arcade-type games. There remains a continuing need for a game which provides virtual world flexibility and exploration delivered interactively on a handheld device.

SUMMARY

Provided for herein is a system which provides for virtual world interactivity overlaid onto real world activities using handheld mobile phone devices.

Provided herein is a system for providing a mobile device based player-versus-player virtual-world game comprising: a system server including location data pertaining to a plurality of geographic sites; at least one mobile device with a plurality of geographically diverse mobile device location identifiers; software executing on the system server for receiving location data pertaining to the geographic site; at least one mobile device with the location data indicative of the location of the mobile device and relative to at least one of the location identifiers; software for direct engagement via messaging between players; software executing on the system server for determining at least one of the geographic sites within a predetermined distance of the location; and software executing on the system server for providing at least a portion of the game data pertaining to the mobile device.

It is therefore an aspect of the invention to provide a multi-dimensional layered interactive game system where virtual world play is overlayed on real-world activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of the game system.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system server interactions with mobile devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a specific embodiment of the game system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Provided herein is a system for providing a mobile device based player-versus-player virtual-world game comprising: a system server including location data pertaining to a plurality of geographic sites; at least one mobile device with a plurality of geographically diverse mobile device location identifiers; software executing on the system server for receiving location data pertaining to the geographic site; at least one mobile device with the location data indicative of the location of the mobile device and relative to at least one of the location identifiers; software for direct engagement via messaging between players; software executing on the system server for determining at least one of the geographic sites within a predetermined distance of the location; and software executing on the system server for providing at least a portion of the game data pertaining to the mobile device.

The mobile device includes a player interface for displaying the game data and receiving another player's input. The location data further may include a player's input, wherein the player interface receives another player's input indicative of location of the other player, and wherein the first player engages the other player.

The mobile device includes software for receiving tower data from at least one of the location identifiers and generating the location data based on the tower data. The system server includes two or more groups of game data, each group corresponding to an individual player. Game data includes player coordinates, health level, skill level, faction, and any equipment or power ups. The software executing on the system server for determining a score for a player of the mobile device based game, the score based at least in part on a number of geographic sites located by the player to satisfy certain game play requirements. Players within a predetermined physical radius of each other can either battle if they are opposing factions or they can group up if they are on the same faction. Combat would be live, not turn based, and would last until one player was destroyed.

The system can be played on any mobile device which can include a WiFi transmitter or equipped with Bluetooth™, also cellular data services, for sending and receiving location data and game data. The software for providing the game data to the mobile device further provides location data indicative of a location of a second or additional mobile device(s) and can also include software executing on the system server for determining a score for a player of the mobile device based game.

The mobile device can be selected from any mobile device with GPS functionality including but not limited to a personal data assistant (PDA), BLACKBERRY®, an iPAD® or iTOUCH®, ANDROID® based mobile device or a portable music MP3 or iPOD® device.

The game data may include a question posed to the player, and further comprises software executing on the system server for receiving a game response from the mobile device. The location data is determined using at least one of a GPS and an enhanced observed time difference system.

In one embodiment the system utilizes the handset's GPS, in tracking the player's location, bearing, and velocity, precisely and rapidly, throughout the game, which increases a game's mental and physical intensity. The physical area of the game can be reduced to a more human scale and played entirely within an area the size of a soccer field, or even a suburban backyard. Smaller scale translates into faster game play because player's moves are measured in seconds rather than minutes, creating an immediacy of play. The game can require travel to real world locations, i.e. hospitals for health, grocery stores for supplies, etc.

Real world interactive role playing games (“RWIRPG”) is a new gaming platform aimed at revolutionizing the gaming industry. Gamers will no longer be forced to stay inside, in order to play and socialize with other garners.

The embodiments of the invention are aimed at creating an interactive “real world” gaming experience, placing a new emphasis on human interaction in order to advance electronic game-play.

Utilizing the latest GPS/GPRS mapping technology and software, RWIRPG would be location-aware of the player and any other players of any particular game. Once two or more players of a particular game are within a predetermined radius of each other, that game would allow them to directly interact and socialize with each other. Primary game-play will involve aspects of role playing, player vs. player combat, real world awareness, and the ability to think outside of conventional games. The background and story of these games can be as varied as any imagination will allow. In a preferred embodiment the game system will be a player v. player combat game. The game can be played on ANDROID® mobile devices and iDevices from Apple®.

The present invention can include leader-boards and player statistics for each game, a live global count and a map tagging the players all over the world. Ad space can be available both in game and on the web front end to allow for advertisement of stores and services near a player's location, as well as related industry advertisement. Players can create a fantasy profile for themselves for whichever game they play, in which they can created a back-story, an inventory list, or any awards they have received in the game.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, players can choose a side of either a “hero” character or a “villain” character. From this point, the player must accumulate experience points in order to progress and level up their character by engaging in combat with other players. If a player is damaged during the game, they may be required to physically travel to a nearby hospital as indicated by the GPS location. Save points would be done in similar fashion; once a player sets a “home,” they can return there and be safe until they log back into the game. If a player logs out of the game at a different location, they will be at risk of being attacked and will have to rely on some sort of information relay to indicate the urgency of their return to the game.

These and other aspects of the embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments of the invention include all such modifications.

The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments of the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments of the invention.

The background and story of these games can be as varied as any imagination will allow. For purposes of illustration, not limitation, this application will use an embodiment of the invention that comprises a zombie war as the main theme of the game, in which players will choose a side of either a survivor or an undead human.

The game will be played on ANDROID® mobile devices and iDevices from Apple®.

One aspect of the invention will comprise: leader-boards and player statistics for each game, a live global count and a map tagging the players all over the world.

Yet another aspect of the invention is the availability of ad space both in game and on the web front end to allow for advertisement of stores and services near a player's location, as well as industry-related advertisement.

In one embodiment of the present invention, players can create a fantasy profile for themselves for whichever game they play, in which they can create a back-story, an inventory list, or any awards they have received in the game.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a player must accumulate experience points in order to progress and level up their character by engaging in combat with other players. If a player is damaged during the game, they may be required to physically travel to a nearby hospital as indicated by the GPS location. Save points would be done in similar fashion, once a player sets a “home” they can return there and be safe until they log back into the game. If a player logs out of the game at a different location, they will be at risk of being attacked and will have to rely on some sort of information relay to indicate the urgency of their return to the game.

Referring now to FIG. 1, where reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments of the invention.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments of the invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Each of the applications and patents cited in this text, as well as each document or reference cited in each of the applications and patents (including during the prosecution of each issued patent; “application cited documents”), and each of the PCT and foreign applications or patents corresponding to and/or claiming priority from any of these applications and patents, and each of the documents cited or referenced in each of the application cited documents, are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. More generally, documents or references are cited in this text, either in a Reference List before the claims; or in the text itself; and, each of these documents or references (“herein-cited references”), as well as each document or reference cited in each of the herein-cited references (including any manufacturer's specifications, instructions, etc.), is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The above-described steps can be implemented using standard well-known programming techniques. The novelty of the above-described embodiment lies not in the specific programming techniques but in the use of the steps described to achieve the described results. Software programming code which embodies the present invention is typically stored in permanent storage. In a client/server environment, such software programming code may be stored with storage associated with a server. The software programming code may be embodied on any of a variety of known media for use with a data processing system, such as a diskette, or hard drive, or CD-ROM. The code may be distributed on such media, or may be distributed to users from the memory or storage of one computer system over a network of some type to other computer systems for use by users of such other systems. The techniques and methods for embodying software program code on physical media and/or distributing software code via networks are well known and will not be further discussed herein.

It will be understood that each element of the illustrations, and combinations of elements in the illustrations, can be implemented by general and/or special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or steps, or by combinations of general and/or special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

These program instructions may be provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the processor create means for implementing the functions specified in the illustrations. The computer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the processor provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the illustrations. Accordingly, the figures support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions.

While there has been described herein the principles of the invention, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims, to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A system for providing a mobile device based player-versus-player virtual-world game comprising: a system server including location data pertaining to a plurality of geographic sites; at least one mobile device with a plurality of geographically diverse mobile device location identifiers; software executing on said system server for receiving location data pertaining to said geographic site; at least one mobile device with the location data indicative of the location of said mobile device and relative to at least one of the location identifiers; software for direct engagement via messaging between players; software executing on said system server for determining at least one of the geographic sites within a predetermined distance of the location; and software executing on said system server for providing at least a portion of the game data pertaining to the said mobile device.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mobile device includes a player interface for displaying the game data and receiving at least one other player's input.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location data includes a player's input, wherein the player interface receives another player's input indicative of location of said other player, and wherein said first player engages said other player.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device includes software for receiving tower data from at least one of said location identifiers and generating the location data based on the tower data.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location identifiers include at least one of a cell tower and at least one mobile device beacon.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system server includes two or more groups of game data, each group corresponding to an individual player.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game data is selected from experience points, goal accomplishment points, connection points.
 8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: software executing on said system server for determining a score for a player of the mobile device based game, the score based at least in part on a number of geographic sites located by the player.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mobile device includes a cellular data service, WiFi transmitter or equipped with Bluetooth™ for sending and receiving location data and game data.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said software for providing at least a portion of the game data to said mobile device further provides location data indicative of a location of a second mobile device.
 11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: software executing on said system server for determining a score for a player of said mobile device based game.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device is at least one of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), an iPAD® or iTOUCH®, ANDROID® based mobile device or a portable music MP3 or iPOD® device.
 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the game data poses a question to the player, and further comprises software executing on said system server for receiving a game response from said mobile device.
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location data is determined using at least one of a GPS and an enhanced observed time difference system.
 15. A method for providing real world virtual gaming comprising: determining a plurality of geographic sites; generating location data concerning the plurality of geographic sites, the location data including at least a location of each of the geographic sites; determining a location of at least one mobile device; determining at least one of the geographic sites within a predetermined range of the location of the mobile device; and providing at least a portion of the location data concerning the geographic sites within the predetermined range to the mobile device.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of generating location data includes receiving location data from a player via a mobile device.
 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: displaying a question concerning at least one of the geographic sites on a player interface of the mobile device; receiving player input indicative of a response to the question.
 18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising storing points associated with a player of the mobile device based game on the response. 